Car service garages (Dunedin)

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Car service garages (Dunedin) - enlighten me

Batman

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Topic # 161841 21-Jan-2015 14:08

I have a soon to be 3 year old Nissan, and coming out of warranty I'm not sure I want to pay just under $300 for a dealer to change oil and open the bonnet.

Here-in lies some issues

1) I took another car to Sim brothers garage to service and the same service (oil change!) also cost $300. I thought to myself - why don't I just take it to the dealer
2) What does a service require apart from the things listed in the service schedule (eg mainly oil / filter change, sometimes some other stuff)
3) Any other place in Dunedin that does it cheaper but just as good

floydbloke

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Reply # 1219992 22-Jan-2015 12:22

A year or so ago I started thinking along the same lines myself.

I've started going to Oilchangers in Lower Hutt (even though it's a bit out of the way), heaps cheaper.

Looks like they do have a Dunedin branch as well.

(Disclaimer: both cars are now in excess of 6 years old and we tend to hang on to cars until they're end of life - 14 years+, so I'm not concerned about keeping service records up to date etc. If I had a newer car, or was concerned about resale value I might reconsider)

ETA: and you don't have to book. My average wait time is around 25 - 30 minutes.

Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important. (T.S. Eliot)

nzkiwiman

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Reply # 1220041 22-Jan-2015 12:57

I live in Mosgiel and got to the garage around the corner (on Gordon Road)
However I have a 19 year old car and so I have never gone to the dealer since I owned it (10 years now)

WOF + Service (with oil change and filter) - around $200

BridgetC

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Reply # 1220081 22-Jan-2015 13:38

I had the same issue in Dunedin, Dealer was crazy expensive!

I used Downtown Service Centre after that and found them great!! Would highly recommend them!

mdooher

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Reply # 1220170 22-Jan-2015 15:25

joker97: I have a soon to be 3 year old Nissan, and coming out of warranty I'm not sure I want to pay just under $300 for a dealer to change oil and open the bonnet.

Here-in lies some issues

1) I took another car to Sim brothers garage to service and the same service (oil change!) also cost $300. I thought to myself - why don't I just take it to the dealer
2) What does a service require apart from the things listed in the service schedule (eg mainly oil / filter change, sometimes some other stuff)
3) Any other place in Dunedin that does it cheaper but just as good

If you got/want a proper service as in the service manual then that price is probably not too bad (assuming they did everything)
If you just want an oil change, oil filter, air filter, cabin air filter, then do it yourself.

As for Oil Changers/Midas etc. Friends and relations of mine have had very bad experiences with them in the past and I would never use them. I'm sure others have had no problems and use them. But, once bitten...

In my case I prefer to do the work myself because I know it is done right.

If for some reason I was unable to do the work myself then the only place I would take it in Dunedin would be K G Mcleod

Matthew

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Reply # 1220265 22-Jan-2015 17:32

Thanks. Used to custom KG McLeod when we were on Waverley. I have had very. Very very bad experiences (ok ok I was young and silly that's why there was a plural) with Midas.

I'll read the Service manual and see.

The extras seem to be "checking everything is within tolerances" or the likes. Plus the Nissan cleans the car for free! Why not eh